Post by Cardinals (GoldHBK10) on Nov 12, 2010 22:09:20 GMT -5
Game changing linebackers are apart of professional football history as some of the greatest franchises have built their teams around them. The Bears had Butkus, Singletary & Urlacher, the Steelers had their Steel Curtain of the 70's and the Giants had the great Lawrence Taylor. Currently guys like Patrick Willis, DeMarcus Ware & Jon Beason rule the field while future studs like Mario Moss & Tidus Riddler will soon be in that elite company. Teams without LB's usually suffer and one of the best ways to change a franchises fortunes is to get an outstanding linebacking corp. Teams in need: Denver (Williams great but he needs help), Bears (Urlacher & Brooking are OLD), Vikings (Get some speed), Raiders (Why was Rolando traded?) & Chiefs (This is becoming a recurring theme)
MLB's
1) Georgia MLB Grady Baruch will not be the 1st MLB taken but he will be the best MLB drafted out of this class. Bauch has excellent instincts (81), great strength (85) and amazing hit power (96). His solid speed (86) will allow him to cover from sideline to sideline as he reminds many of a young Brian Urlacher. Bauch will need to improve his tackling (77) and ability to shed the blocker (77) but those will come in due time and for whichever team this linebacker drops too, they will be getting a solid anchor for the middle of their defense for years to come.
2) Iowa MLB Sione Taue'etia has the scouts drooling over his amazing speed (95), tackling (93) and hitting power (99) and may end up being the 1st overall pick. Al Davis has already come out and declared this young man to be the greatest prospect ever, which should serve as a cautionary tale for everyone. Sione has some glaring flaws that were exposed in his bowl game. Sione cannot handle the point of attack as he was repeatedly moved out of the hole (72 BSH, 54 STR). T1ML teams will most likely run directly at him and force him to engage the blocker and if is unable to break free all the speed in the world will do him no good on his back. He's a converted SS and if he struggles team may end up converting him into a situational MLB, something you don't want from the #1 overall pick. Either way don't expect this guy to fall out of the top 5 as he'll be a player to watch during his rookie year.
3) Navy MLB Patrick Ferrell checks in at 3rd. Ferrell has excellent instincts for a rookie (86) and he'll have no problem getting of his block (91). His lack of top end speed (70) will make him drop as many in the T1ML are speed crazy but in the end that will only help whichever playoff team he falls too. Ferrell will stuff the inside run as well as any LB and can step in right away and start for most teams. Combine that with his A potential and he'll have no problem getting better.
OLB's
1) Cincinnati ROLB Eldon Robinson may be the finest linebacker in the draft as this guy is the complete package. Speed (91), Power (83), Technique (80 TAK, 86 BSH), Understanding (82 PRC) and Coverage (75 MCV, 86 ZCV). Robinson played FS in high school and he's handled the transition to linebacker better then anyone could have imagined. Robinson isn't a blitzer (though with those coverage stats why would he be blitzing) and he'll struggle against stronger OL (76 STR). There are concerns that he may have already hit his ceiling with his potential nearly maxed out (80 OVR B POT) but looking at what he brings to table it may be enough to vault him into the elite LB's. Expect him to be in the top 3 on the final big board with that amount of talent, regardless of his ability to grow.
2) Tulsa LOLB Jemale Simmons comes in at 2nd for outside linebackers. Simmons has very nice stats (84 SPD, 86 POW), good instincts (86 AWR, 80 PRC, 81 PUR) and excellent technique (90 TAK, 85 BSH) but he's not the complete package that Robinson is. Simmons doesn't have good lateral movement (67 AGI), one of the reasons that he was kicked out side from MLB. Average coverage skills (67 MCV & 64 ZCV) are another concern as he's really forced to be a blitzer or off the field in passing situations. Simmons has amazing potential (A) so he'll do well with the proper coaching but his flaws are large enough that he'll drop probably into the 2nd Round.
3) Kentucky LOLB Axel Ofori will likely be the 3rd LB taken but whoever takes him must realize that he's a bit of a project. Ofori is not NFL ready and that was shown against the top SEC teams as Ofori repeatedly missed tackles. Ofori has the physical stats that impresses scouts (86 SPD, 84 STR) but his inability to finish (66 TAK, 78) hurt the Wildcats on many occasions. Coming in Ofori will most likely just be a 3rd Down pass rusher for 3-4 teams but given a few years with his excellent potential (A) Axel could end up as a solid starter.
MLB's
1) Georgia MLB Grady Baruch will not be the 1st MLB taken but he will be the best MLB drafted out of this class. Bauch has excellent instincts (81), great strength (85) and amazing hit power (96). His solid speed (86) will allow him to cover from sideline to sideline as he reminds many of a young Brian Urlacher. Bauch will need to improve his tackling (77) and ability to shed the blocker (77) but those will come in due time and for whichever team this linebacker drops too, they will be getting a solid anchor for the middle of their defense for years to come.
2) Iowa MLB Sione Taue'etia has the scouts drooling over his amazing speed (95), tackling (93) and hitting power (99) and may end up being the 1st overall pick. Al Davis has already come out and declared this young man to be the greatest prospect ever, which should serve as a cautionary tale for everyone. Sione has some glaring flaws that were exposed in his bowl game. Sione cannot handle the point of attack as he was repeatedly moved out of the hole (72 BSH, 54 STR). T1ML teams will most likely run directly at him and force him to engage the blocker and if is unable to break free all the speed in the world will do him no good on his back. He's a converted SS and if he struggles team may end up converting him into a situational MLB, something you don't want from the #1 overall pick. Either way don't expect this guy to fall out of the top 5 as he'll be a player to watch during his rookie year.
3) Navy MLB Patrick Ferrell checks in at 3rd. Ferrell has excellent instincts for a rookie (86) and he'll have no problem getting of his block (91). His lack of top end speed (70) will make him drop as many in the T1ML are speed crazy but in the end that will only help whichever playoff team he falls too. Ferrell will stuff the inside run as well as any LB and can step in right away and start for most teams. Combine that with his A potential and he'll have no problem getting better.
OLB's
1) Cincinnati ROLB Eldon Robinson may be the finest linebacker in the draft as this guy is the complete package. Speed (91), Power (83), Technique (80 TAK, 86 BSH), Understanding (82 PRC) and Coverage (75 MCV, 86 ZCV). Robinson played FS in high school and he's handled the transition to linebacker better then anyone could have imagined. Robinson isn't a blitzer (though with those coverage stats why would he be blitzing) and he'll struggle against stronger OL (76 STR). There are concerns that he may have already hit his ceiling with his potential nearly maxed out (80 OVR B POT) but looking at what he brings to table it may be enough to vault him into the elite LB's. Expect him to be in the top 3 on the final big board with that amount of talent, regardless of his ability to grow.
2) Tulsa LOLB Jemale Simmons comes in at 2nd for outside linebackers. Simmons has very nice stats (84 SPD, 86 POW), good instincts (86 AWR, 80 PRC, 81 PUR) and excellent technique (90 TAK, 85 BSH) but he's not the complete package that Robinson is. Simmons doesn't have good lateral movement (67 AGI), one of the reasons that he was kicked out side from MLB. Average coverage skills (67 MCV & 64 ZCV) are another concern as he's really forced to be a blitzer or off the field in passing situations. Simmons has amazing potential (A) so he'll do well with the proper coaching but his flaws are large enough that he'll drop probably into the 2nd Round.
3) Kentucky LOLB Axel Ofori will likely be the 3rd LB taken but whoever takes him must realize that he's a bit of a project. Ofori is not NFL ready and that was shown against the top SEC teams as Ofori repeatedly missed tackles. Ofori has the physical stats that impresses scouts (86 SPD, 84 STR) but his inability to finish (66 TAK, 78) hurt the Wildcats on many occasions. Coming in Ofori will most likely just be a 3rd Down pass rusher for 3-4 teams but given a few years with his excellent potential (A) Axel could end up as a solid starter.